Why is my refrigerator leaking water onto the floor?

Most of the time it is a clogged defrost drain. The fridge melts frost on each cycle and routes the water to a pan to evaporate, and when that drain clogs the water backs up and leaks out. Other sources are a frozen drain line, a cracked or overflowing drain pan, or a weeping water inlet or filter housing on units with a dispenser. We find the single source before charging you for anything.

How much does it cost to fix a leaking refrigerator?

Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis. A frozen line, a drain pan, or a water-path fitting fall in a similar range depending on the part. The $99 service call includes the diagnostic, and you get an exact written quote before any work starts.

Should I just live with the leak or get it fixed?

Get it fixed. This is rarely a replace question and almost always a straightforward, worthwhile repair on any fridge. Letting it go is the real risk, since standing water warps flooring and can grow into bigger problems. On a Sub-Zero, GE, or Monogram there is no question at all, these are built to be serviced for years and a drain repair is routine.

Are you local, and how fast can you get out?

We are based in San Ramon and run appliance calls across the Tri-Valley and the East Bay every day. A leak is worth getting to before it reaches your floor, so call (925) 999-4095 and we will get you on the schedule and tell you the diagnostic and timing up front.

REFRIGERATOR

Refrigerator leaking water? We fix it.

Water pooling under the fridge or inside the bottom of the compartment is one of the more common calls we get, and the good news is it is usually a simple, worthwhile fix. Most of the time it is a clogged defrost drain, which is a clean diagnosis and an affordable repair. We confirm the source before we charge you for anything.

The diagnostic visit is $99 and we credit it toward the repair. You get the exact part and labor in writing before any work starts.

$99 diagnostic, credited toward the repair
Written quote before work
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Why this happens

What we look for first.

Clogged defrost drain. This is the cause far and away most often. The fridge melts a little frost on each defrost cycle and routes that water down a small drain line to a pan underneath, where it evaporates. When the drain clogs, usually with ice or food debris, the water has nowhere to go, so it backs up and leaks out, either onto your floor or as ice and water in the bottom of the compartment. We clear the drain and get it flowing again. Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis.
Frozen drain line. Closely related to a clog, the drain line itself can freeze solid, often because a defrost issue or a low compartment temperature lets it ice over before the water can drain. The result is the same backed-up water and a puddle, but the fix has to address why it froze, not only thaw it once. We thaw the line, find the reason it froze, and correct that so it does not ice back up in a month.
Cracked or clogged drain pan. The drain pan under the fridge catches the defrost water so it can evaporate. If the pan has cracked or shifted, or it is clogged and overflowing, the water ends up on your floor instead of evaporating. We pull the lower access panel, check the pan for cracks and position, and replace or reseat it when that is the source.
Water inlet or filter housing leak. On units with a dispenser or ice maker, the water inlet valve, the lines, and the filter housing are all under supply pressure. A cracked housing, a loose fitting, or a weeping valve drips water that shows up as a leak with no obvious source inside. We inspect the water path end to end and confirm where it is weeping before we replace a part, since a fitting is a far cheaper fix than a valve.

How we diagnose and fix it

The walk-in workflow.

01
Pull the model and serial and locate where the water is showing up, inside the bottom of the compartment, under the unit, or out front, since each points at a different source.
02
Check the defrost drain for a clog or an ice plug, which is the most common cause by a wide margin.
03
Pull the lower access panel and inspect the drain pan for cracks, overflow, or a shifted position.
04
On units with a dispenser or ice maker, inspect the inlet valve, supply lines, and filter housing for a weep or a loose fitting.
05
Confirm the single source of the leak before quoting, so you are not paying to chase more than the actual cause.
06
Once the source is confirmed, quote the exact repair and labor in writing before we start.

Pricing and warranty

What it costs. What we stand behind.

$99

Diagnostic visit. Credited toward the repair when you book the work with us.
Typical

Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the $99 on-site diagnosis, which is credited toward the repair.
Warranty

You get a parts and labor warranty in writing before we start: from 3 months to 2 years depending on the type of repair. Standard repairs carry 3 months on parts and labor, inverter boards 1 year, and a full sealed-system rebuild 2 years. We put the part, the price, and the labor on the quote before we touch the machine, so you know exactly what is covered.

Before you call

Is your fridge worth repairing?

Repair price depends on what failed and how the unit is built. If your refrigerator cost under $1,000 new, the repair math may not work. We diagnose the unit on site and provide the written repair estimate before any work starts.

Premium built-ins in the Sub-Zero, Monogram, and Thermador class are designed to be serviced. We diagnose the fault and help you compare the written repair estimate with replacement.

Two free checks before you call: vacuum the condenser coils, and run the dollar-bill test on the door seal by closing the fridge on a bill and seeing how easily it slides out. If the power blinked recently, give the compressor a full day before deciding it is dead. If the fridge really is done, put that money toward the next one instead. Our other trade is heating and cooling, and a replacement assessment visit for an A/C, furnace, or heat pump is free.

FAQ

Refrigerator questions.

Why is my refrigerator leaking water onto the floor?

Most of the time it is a clogged defrost drain. The fridge melts frost on each cycle and routes the water to a pan to evaporate, and when that drain clogs the water backs up and leaks out. Other sources are a frozen drain line, a cracked or overflowing drain pan, or a weeping water inlet or filter housing on units with a dispenser. We find the single source before charging you for anything.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking refrigerator?

Repair pricing is provided in a written estimate after the on-site diagnosis. A frozen line, a drain pan, or a water-path fitting fall in a similar range depending on the part. The $99 service call includes the diagnostic, and you get an exact written quote before any work starts.
Should I just live with the leak or get it fixed?

Get it fixed. This is rarely a replace question and almost always a straightforward, worthwhile repair on any fridge. Letting it go is the real risk, since standing water warps flooring and can grow into bigger problems. On a Sub-Zero, GE, or Monogram there is no question at all, these are built to be serviced for years and a drain repair is routine.
Are you local, and how fast can you get out?

We are based in San Ramon and run appliance calls across the Tri-Valley and the East Bay every day. A leak is worth getting to before it reaches your floor, so call (925) 999-4095 and we will get you on the schedule and tell you the diagnostic and timing up front.

Same appliance

Other refrigerator symptoms we cover.

Ready to book the call?

Tell us the model and the symptom. We will quote it.